How to Survive Wedding Season Single

Not sure you can survive another wedding season single? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the number of embossed invitations celebrating another happy couple’s love? Oh good, you have to buy another unflattering satin bridesmaid dress…

Ready to pull out your hair yet? Yeah, us too. If you’re feeling like you might not make it through another season of weddings full of love and toasts, we have a few suggestions for how to keep it fun and keep your sanity.

Here are 10 tips to beat being single and sad during the summer wedding season

It’s okay to be picky. If you didn’t get a save-the-date notice or you got the invitation a month out from the wedding, chances are you might not be at the top of the couple’s list. It’s okay to decline the invite. Save your June weekends this season for close friends and family members’ celebrations.

Remember that you’re still tons of fun. All your married or soon-to-be-married friends would probably love to be in your position of freedom. They’ll at least want to live vicariously through you. So why not give them something to look forward to? Go on a bike ride with that guy you met at Whole Foods last week. Say yes to wine tasting with the guy from spinning. They just might become your Plus 1s!

Take this opportunity to get fit! Sign up for that LivingSocial or Groupon fitness class you’ve been meaning to enroll in, and set some summer goals. This is a great time to look and feel your best. You want to look your best in that dress, right? Discounts on Zumba class never looked better.

Treat yourself. Buy that dress you’ve been staring at in Anthropologie for weeks. Have you been saving for some Louboutins? There’s no better time than the present. Let the sales girl talk you into that clutch you’ve always wanted. It’s the perfect time to feel fabulous and dressed up, and you won’t have to wait too long for the compliments to start rolling in.

Turn a destination wedding into a vacation. Can you really be that upset that your roommate from college decided to get married in Fiji? We didn’t think so. Why not invite a friend along and extend your trip for an extra week? We know we can’t turn down a tropical vacation, so why should you? It will probably help to get a little R & R in to rejuvenate yourself after another busy wedding season anyway.

No need to break the bank. It can be frustrating when you feel like you’re spending your whole paycheck on expensive gifts for each wedding you attend. Go in with some other single friends on a present instead of buying an expensive gift yourself each time. It’s totally still the thought that counts.

Don’t bring a lame date just because you got a Plus 1. Think about your high school prom: would you rather take a mediocre date or have a good time with your girlfriends? Not only is it VERY hard (and not dignifiied, to say the least) to ditch a date at a wedding, it’s also possible you might be missing out on an awesome guy at the reception. Embrace your singleness and have fun!

Find yourself a wedding wingwoman. Scout out a friend at the wedding. It’s best to spot her at a pre-event like an engagement party or a bridal shower. She’ll probably be the most fun-looking girl at the party. (Besides you!) You can both take advantage of the celebration (in moderation, of course) and make the most of the party!

Celebrate love. (No, really!) Weddings truly are a special time, and it’s always nice to see two people who have found each other–especially when they’re your friends! Take advantage of this moment to celebrate love between two people, and remember why you believed in love in the first place.

The “Singles” table can be a good thing! It’s kind of like an online dating site, and at least everyone is in the same position. Yes, there’s always the potential humiliation when “Single Ladies” comes on, but maybe the cute guy to your right from Boston will want to join in. Signs point to yes.